Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are transforming nearly every industry, from marketing and writing to coding and customer service. Learning how to navigate these tools and use them in your daily life could give you a competitive edge in the workforce. If you’re interested in learning how to use AI but aren’t sure where to start, this article will serve as a starting point.

What are AI tools?

AI tools are simply software applications designed to perform tasks that usually require human interaction. Increasingly, these tools have become part of our daily lives — here are a few examples:

  • You can use tools like Claude to write and create content.
  • ChatGPT can answer questions, provide insights, and generate humanlike dialogue.
  • GitHub Copilot can suggest code completions and functions.
  • Productivity tools like Notion can help you stay organized.

Before you begin trying to learn AI tools, take some time to determine what your goals are. Knowing what problem you’re trying to solve helps you find the right tool. Most software applications fall into two categories: general-purpose and task-specific tools.

For example, ChatGPT is a general-purpose tool since it can handle requests like outlining an email, helping with meal planning, or just answering questions. In comparison, task-specific tools only perform certain well-defined functions. Grammarly is a good example of this since its primary task is to provide grammar and style suggestions.

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To ensure you’re using these tools responsibly, it’s essential to fact-check any information you receive rather than accepting it at face value.

Start small

When it comes to learning AI tools, it’s best to start small. Pick one or two tools you’d like to learn and start by using the free version of the software. For example, ChatGPT, Notion, and Jasper all offer free plans or trial periods, so you can begin learning with no financial commitment.

Choose a low-stakes environment to explore these tools. For instance, if you’re interested in using ChatGPT to draft emails, start with personal emails before moving on to work emails. Create a side project for fun that won’t have any negative implications. Keeping the stakes low takes the pressure off and provides more space for learning and exploration.

Once you become more comfortable with these tools, you can expand your learning. You can explore prompt libraries or follow YouTube tutorials or blog posts that explain how to adjust these tools to fit your needs.

Build a learning routine

To learn how to implement AI tools into your daily workflow, it’s best to set up a structured learning routine. This will be more effective than just sporadically asking ChatGPT questions.

Set specific goals around what you’d like to learn so you’re able to track and measure your progress. You may find the following resources helpful as you continue your learning:

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Consider the limitations

AI tools can be a powerful resource, but they come with limitations and ethical concerns. If you’re using AI tools for research, they can provide incorrect or biased information. This information often sounds plausible, but it is either outright false or misleading.

To ensure you’re using these tools responsibly, it’s essential to fact-check any information you receive rather than accepting it at face value. You should also avoid sharing any sensitive personal information in prompts. If you use an AI tool to generate content, you should include an attribution in your citations.

It’s important to consider the broader implications of AI use, including copyright or potential plagiarism issues. Using AI responsibly means you’re always using human oversight and taking responsibility for the outcomes of your work.

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